Biomarkers in autoimmune liver disease

Abstract

The present disclosure provides methods and compositions that find use in identifying presence of an advanced stage autoimmune liver disease (ALD) is a subject diagnosed as having ALD. Also provided here are methods and compositions that find use in monitoring effectiveness of treatment of an ALD patient receiving a treatment for the ALD. Also provided here are methods and compositions that find use in identifying subjects suffering from a relapse of ALD. The methods and compositions of the present disclosure also find use in facilitating treatment decisions for a subject having ALD.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for treating a subject diagnosed with an autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), the method comprising:
 administering to a subject an effective amount of: 
 an immunosuppressive agent, 
 wherein the subject is identified as in need for treatment for the AIH based on having, in a body fluid sample, a level of CX3CL1 higher than a threshold level of CX3CL1. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject is identified as in need for treatment for the AIH based on having, in a body fluid sample, a level of CX3CL1 higher than a threshold level of CX3CL1 and a level of CCL19 higher than a threshold level of CCL19. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject is identified as in need for treatment for the AIH based on having, in a body fluid sample, a level of CX3CL1 higher than a threshold level of CX3CL1 and a level of CXCL9 higher than a threshold level of CXCL9. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject is identified as in need for treatment for the AIH based on having, in a body fluid sample, a level of CX3CL1 higher than a threshold level of CX3CL1 and a level of Eotaxin-3 higher than a threshold level of Eotaxin-3. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the immunosuppressive agent comprises prednisone. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the immunosuppressive agent comprises azathioprine. 
     
     
       7. A method for treating autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) in a subject, the method comprising:
 administering an immunosuppressant therapy to the subject; 
 measuring a level of CX3CL1 in a biological sample of the subject after the administering; 
 tapering or terminating the immunosuppressant therapy if the level of the measured biomarker is below a threshold level of the biomarker; or 
 continuing the immunosuppressant therapy if the level of the measured biomarker is at or above a threshold level of the biomarker. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the continuing the immunosuppressant therapy comprises changing the treatment regimen or changing the active agent administered to the subject. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the measuring comprises measuring a level of CX3CL1 and measuring a level of CCL19. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the measuring comprises measuring a level of CX3CL1 and measuring a level of CXCL9. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the measuring comprises measuring a level of CX3CL1 and measuring a level of Eotaxin-3. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the immunosuppressant therapy comprises administering prednisone. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the immunosuppressant therapy comprises administering azathioprine.